Itanagar: Three athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, Likha Aku, Meta Pao, and Damsop Tungi, have brought laurels to the state by winning bronze medals at the 8th Senior Asian Pencak Silat Championship 2024, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The trio’s impressive performance contributed significantly to the overall success of the seven-member Arunachal contingent that participated in the prestigious event.
Their achievements highlight the growing talent and potential of Arunachal Pradesh in the world of international sports.
Kipa Takar, General Secretary of the North East Pencak Silat Federation, praised the athletes’ accomplishments and stressed the need for a dedicated training centre in Itanagar to nurture future champions.
He noted that this was the first time athletes from Arunachal Pradesh had represented India at such a high-level competition.
Pencak Silat is a fighting sport that collectively encompasses martial arts of various styles originating from Indonesia.
This form of fighting involves, striking, grappling techniques, and throwing. In addition, fighters are allowed to use certain types of weapons. Pencak Silat involves full-body fighting, where any part of the body can be used and any part of the body can be attacked.
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This form of fighting originated in Indonesia as a means of self-defense and turned into a competitive sport. The sport has currently spread to many South Asian countries.